Politics

The price of a gallon of diesel fuel is shown electronically on a pump at a QuikTrip station Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Greenwood Village, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Trump strikes deal with Putin to get diesel

By Michelle L. Price

October 9, 2026 at 6:26 p.m.

Trump’s shocking announcement was in stark contrast to a sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed...

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a City Club of Chicago event at Maggiano's Banquets on Sept. 30, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoes debt issuance rule backed by aldermen

By Jake Sheridan

October 9, 2026 at 6:06 p.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a veto late Friday to an ordinance passed by aldermen to...

The Cook County Board of Commissioners meets in the County Board room on Oct. 5, 2023. (Trent Sprague/baiduhai)

Appointed Democrat Kisha McCaskill faces Republican Richard Nolan in Cook County Board 5th District

By Evy Lewis

October 9, 2026 at 12:04 p.m.

Democrat Kisha McCaskill, appointed last year in Cook County's 5th Dist, faces Republican Richard Nolan...

Sunlight hits Chicago City Hall on Jan. 29, 2025. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Chicago mayoral election 2027: Who are the candidates so far?

By Alice Yin

September 16, 2026 at 5:02 p.m.

These are the candidates running in the 2027 Chicago mayor's race so far.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., speaks at the Wisconsin Air National Guard facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, July 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Wisconsin congressman swims to safety after plane makes emergency landing

By Associated Press

September 13, 2026 at 10:23 a.m.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany says he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day...

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks with supporters after announcing he will seek a second term at the DuSable Black History Museum in Chicago, Sept. 13, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson declares reelection campaign

By Alice Yin

September 15, 2026 at 7:02 p.m.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Sunday he will seek a second term, ending speculation over...

A sign prohibiting ICE activity on village-owned property is displayed at the entrance to the Village Hall lot in Hanover Park on Sept. 8, 2026. In December 2025, Hanover Park trustees approved an ordinance and signs prohibiting ICE from staging any enforcement activity on municipal property. (Joe Lewnard/Daily Herald)

‘Right thing to do’ or ‘feel-good’ PR? Suburbs split on whether ICE bans on municipal property actually work.

By Eric Peterson

September 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A year after Operation Midway Blitz, questions linger whether local laws prohibiting immigration enforcement on...

Gov. JB Pritzker joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot, right, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, second from left, and public health experts in updating residents on March 12, 2020, in the early days of the pandemic. Illinois, Chicago and Cook County received $11 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A Tribune-University of Chicago Mansueto Institute analysis revealed few efforts to identify potential waste and abuse of that money. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Illinois, Chicago, Cook County got $11B in pandemic aid but there were gaps in oversight and transparency

By Dan Petrella

September 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Tribune and the University of Chicago's Mansueto Institute examined how Illinois, Chicago and Cook...

A general view of Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland after putting on the 14th green on day two of the Irish Golf Open in Doonbeg, Ireland, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)

President Donald Trump touches a nerve while in Ireland by saying reunification would be ‘fantastic’

By Jill Lawless

September 12, 2026 at 11:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that a unified Ireland would be “fantastic” as he waded...

Vehicles are parked in office building lots west of the former Arlington International Racecourse, April 21, 2026, in Arlington Heights. The vacant land is the possible future site of a new stadium for the Chicago Bears. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

As Chicago Bears eye Indiana move, Arlington Heights extends lobbyist contract to lure team there

By Christopher Placek

September 12, 2026 at 10:39 a.m.

Arlington Heights officials have re-upped with their lobbyists who are still trying to secure the...

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., entered a Washington hospital in June for what was described as a fall, and despite his August discharge from a rehabilitation facility, he has yet to give any public indication on his expected return date. The Senate is back from break on Sept. 14. (MARIAM ZUHAIB/AP FILE)

Will Mitch McConnell return to Senate when it reconvenes on Sept. 14?

By Ray Lewis

September 12, 2026 at 8:49 a.m.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican, is approaching his third month out of office....

Then-U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino carries tear gas, a rifle and his body camera while conducting immigration enforcement operations on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood. Judge Sara Ellis said she wanted to be very clear with the government going forward about what evidence it was obligated to hold onto, particularly involving employees no longer with the department, such as former Cmdr. Bovino. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Is Operation Midway Blitz still ongoing? DHS lawyer had judge doing double take on bodycams.

By Jason Meisner

September 11, 2026 at 7:56 p.m.

A lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security had people scratching their heads in a...

Vice President JD Vance applauds as President Donald Trump arrives on the stage at the Republican convention Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A closer look at claims during the Republican midterm convention

By Melissa Goldin

September 11, 2026 at 1:14 p.m.

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other Republican officials came together for a...